Extensible platform



' Patented Apr. ll, I899. J. BURWELL. EXTENSIBLE PLATFUBM.

(Application filed May 28, 1898.)

(No Model.)

JZ/in l? 11 7;;

lllnrrn STATES .ATnNr rrion.

JOHN BURWELL, OF SHELBY, IOVA.

EXTENSIBLE PLATFORM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,666, dated April 11, 1899.

Application filed. May 28, 1898. Serial No. 682,022- (No model.)

To (oZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN BURWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shelby, in the county of Shelby and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Extensible Platform, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a new and useful construction of extensible plank particularly adapted for the use of plasterers, painters, and paper-hangers.

lIeretofore painters, paper-hangers, and

. plasterers have been required to provide a number of different-sized planks to be arranged upon trestles or ladders; and the object of my invention is to provide a plank which can be extended or contracted, as desired, within certain limits, thereby reducing the quantity of material to be carried by each operator. I

lVith this object in view my invention consists, essentially, of a series of strips connected near their ends by cross-strips and a series of strips arranged between the firstinentioned strips at their ends and adapted to slide between said first-mentioned strips, whereby the composite plank or platform can be extended or contracted at each end by simply sliding out or pushing in the supplemental strips.

The invention consists also in certain details of construction and novelties of combination, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and specifically pointed out in claims.

In the drawings forming apart of this specification, Figure 1 is a view of my improved plank, the ends being extended about onehalf their entire capacity. Fig. 2 is a view showing the ends pushed in to their utmost extent. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view showing the ends of the main and supplemental portions of the plank detached.

Like letters of reference mark the same parts wherever they occur in the various figures of the drawings.

In carrying out my invention I employ four main strips A, which are connected near their ends to metallic straps B through the medium of bolts 0, said metallic straps being preferably carried around and under the side strips, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3, and within said bent portion of the strap and bearing upon the side strips are the brace-blocks D, which prevent any pivotal movement of the strap or side strips.

There are preferably four of the strips A, and sliding between said strips from each end are the supplemental strips E, connected at their outer ends by means of the cross-piece F and at their inner ends by means of the metallic strap G, similar to the metallic band or straps B, the ends being carried around and under in identically the same manner, and brace-blocks H are also secured bymeans of the said band or strap, therebyinsu ring an even and steady movement of the extensible portion of the plank. The strips or piecesA are preferably made about eight feet long, while the strips E are about one-half that length, and from Fig. 1 it will be seen that these supplemental strips when connected and arranged as heretofore describedcan be readily slid out to an extent of four feet, thereby providing a plank sixteen feet long, or they can be pushed in their entire distance, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2, thereby providin g a plank or platform only eight feet long, but of double strength.

It will thus be seen that I provide a composite extensible plank or platform capable of accomplishing all of the operations and objects heretofore recited and one possessing all the advantages mentioned.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1.In a device of the kind described, the main strips, connected at their ends by means of suitable bands or straps, the brace-blocks, the supplemental strips, connected at their outer ends by means of suitable end pieces and at their inner ends by means of suitable straps or hands, and the brace-blocks, also carried by the said straps or hands, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a device of the kind described, the

'adapted to operate substantially as shown combination with the main strips, of the conand described.

necting bands or straps carried down and under the side strips the supplemental strips 1 7 slidingbetween the main strips and connected JOHN BURVELL' 5 at their inner ends by means of bands or Witnesses:

straps, carried also down and under, and the J. A. COOK, brace-blocks secured by the said straps and H. D. COX. 

